Culvers pro-abortion stance wins endorsement of Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa’s political action committee has endorsed Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chet Culver. Jill June, president of Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa, says they’ll make a campaign contribution in about a month and try to spread the message about Culver’s stand in favor of abortion rights.

“Let’s make it perfectly clear today that it matters more than ever who you vote for,” June says. “Among the leading candidates today, Chet Culver stands head and shoulders above the rest.” June says the state’s Planned Parenthood’s PAC has never before endorsed a candidate in a gubernatorial primary. “We simply must speak now and we must provide our steady, true, guiding hand to the voters of the state of Iowa so that they understand what’s at stake,” June says.

With an abortion ban being passed in South Dakota and questions about the future of the Roe v. Wade decision which legalized abortion in America, June says it’s critical that voters choose a candidate who will not allow abortion rights to “unravel.”

June describes Culver as a “clear” and consistent supporter of not only abortion rights, but a backer of ensuring women have access to legal prescription drugs, like the birth control pill or the so-called morning after pill. Culver’s rival, State Representative Ed Fallon, also backs abortion rights but another competitor, ex-state economic development director Mike Blouin, is pro-life.

Blouin has pledged not to sign any bill that would enact abortion restrictions. June says that’s not good enough. “There’s just no wiggle room left anymore in politics on these matters. Women’s lives are at stake when their privacy rights to health care are stripped away,” June says. “We are looking for a leader and we just can’t make do with a follower.”

Culver said there will never be any question about where he stands on the abortion issue. “As governor, most importantly, I will veto any attempt that will infringe on this very important right,” Culver said. Culver is currently Iowa’s Secretary of State. Congressman Jim Nussle, who is running unopposed for the Republican party’s nomination for governor, is pro-life.